Leash for securing a surf craft to a limb of a person

ABSTRACT

A leash for securing a surfboard t a limb of a rider comprises a strap  9120  adapted to be fastened around the limb and a cord ( 36 ) connected to the strap at one end and attachable to the board at the other. The strap may bear ribs ( 30 ) on its inner face, and/or be shaped to match, say, the achilles region of the ankle, to prevent rotation of the strap around the limb. Either the region ( 32 ) of the strap may be shaped, or the proximal portion of the cord ( 34 ) may be bent, so that when worn the leash will assume a line offset from a line trailing directly behind the user. The above features are designed to lessen the chance of the rider becoming entangled in the leash.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a leash suitable for use in securing asurf craft to a limb of a person for the purpose of avoiding loss of thesurf craft in the event of the person falling from the craft orotherwise being separated from it.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of leashes by surfers to tie their surfboard or body board toeither their ankle or wrist is well known. Such leashes comprise a strapand an elongate cord that is generally formed from an elastic materialsuch as polyurethane. The cord is attached to the strap so as to extendrearwardly therefrom and trail behind the limb of the surfer in use.

However, due to its flexible nature the cord may float around the limbof the surfer while he or she is waiting for a wave and so be tangledwith the limb when the surfer attempts to catch the wave. This is highlyundesirable as it may result in the surfer missing the wave oralternatively, inhibit the movement of the surfer during the ride.

In light of this, a leash with a cord coiled in the form of a spring hasbeen provided. In this instance, the cord is again attached to the rearof the strap so as to trail behind the limb to which the strap isattached. While this arrangement reduces the free movement of the cordin the water it nevertheless is still able to gather closely around thelimb and so the possibility of being caught by the limb remains.

A retractable leash has also been proposed in Australian patentapplication 82070/91. That leash comprises a strap carrying a reel aboutwhich the cord is wrapped. A coil spring associated with the reel actsto cause the reel to rotate when there is slack in the cord so that theslack is thereby wound onto the reel. While the arrangement reduces thefree movement of the cord in the water it is prone to failure due to itsreliance on the movement of mechanical parts. The straps of prior artleashes may also slip about the surfer's limb which exacerbates theproblem of entanglement with the cord and requires the surfer tofrequently readjust the position of the strap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aim of the present invention to address one or more problems ofthe prior art.

In one aspect of the present invention there is provided a leash forsecuring a surf craft to a limb of a person, the leash comprising:

a strap with an inner face and an opposite outer face, and which isadapted for being fastened around the limb; and

a cord with a proximal end region attached to the strap, and an oppositedistal end region for attachment to the surf craft;

wherein the proximal end region of the cord is maintained in a biasedposition so as to be biased to one side of the limb from a positiontrailing behind the limb, when the strap is fastened around the limbsuch that the inner face of the strap is pressed against said limb.

Generally, the strap will receive the cord and be adapted to hold thecord in the biased position. Alternatively, the proximal end region ofthe cord may be adapted so as to cause the cord to be biased to the oneside of the limb.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a cord for a leashthat is suitable for securing a surf craft to a limb of a person,wherein the leash includes a strap adapted for being fastened around thelimb and having an inner face and an opposite outer face, and the cordhas a distal end region for attachment to the surf craft and a proximalend region for attachment to the strap, the proximal end region of thecord being adapted to cause the cord to be biased from a positiontrailing behind the limb to one side of said limb, when the proximal endregion of the cord is attached to the strap and when the strap isfastened around the limb so that the inner face thereof is pressedagainst said limb.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a strap forattachment to a cord for securing a surf craft to a limb of a person,wherein the strap is adapted for being fastened around the limb and hasan outer face and an opposite inner face, and is further adapted toreceive an end region of the cord such that the cord is thereby biasedfrom a position trailing the limb to one side of the limb, when thestrap is fastened around the limb such that the inner face of the strapis pressed against said limb.

Accordingly, the strap can be fastened around the limb such that thecord is biased to the side of the limb away from the direction of travelin which the limb is moved when the surfer assumes his or her paddlingor normal riding position. This inhibits the cord from gathering aroundthe limb while the surfer waits to catch a wave and as such, thepossibility of the cord becoming caught around or under the surfers limbis thereby reduced.

The side of the limb to which the cord is biased can be altered bysimply rotating the strap about the cord through 180° prior to fasteningthe strap to the limb. This allows a single leash of the invention to beused by a surfer irrespective of whether the leash is attached to aright or left limb when in his or her normal riding position.Accordingly, the invention provides a simple and relatively inexpensiveway of dealing with the problem of cord entanglement around the limb.

In still another aspect of the invention there is provided a leash forsecuring a surf craft to a limb of a person, and comprising:

a strap with an inner face and an opposite outer face, and being adaptedto be fastened around the limb; and

a cord with a proximal end region attached to the strap and a distal endregion for attachment to the surf craft;

wherein the inner face of the strap is shaped to substantiallycorrespond to the contour of a region of the limb to thereby inhibit thestrap from rotation about the limb, when the strap is fastened aroundsaid region of the limb such that the inner face of the strap is pressedagainst said limb.

In a yet further aspect of the invention there is provided strap forsecuring a cord to a limb of a person, wherein the strap is attachableto the cord and has an inner face and an opposite outer face, and isadapted to be fastened around the limb, and wherein the inner face ofthe strap is shaped to substantially correspond to the contour of aregion of the limb to thereby inhibit the strap from rotation about thelimb, when the strap is fastened around said region of the limb suchthat the inner face of the strap is pressed against said limb.

In a still further aspect of the present invention there is providedleash for securing a surf craft to a limb of a person, comprising:

a strap with an inner face and an opposite outer face, and being adaptedto be fastened around the limb; and

a cord with a proximal end region attached to the strap and a distal endregion for attachment to the surf craft;

wherein at least one protuberance for pressing against the limb tothereby inhibit the strap from rotation about the limb when the strap isfastened around said limb such that the inner face of the strap ispressed against the limb, is defined on the strap.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided strap for securinga cord to a limb of a person, wherein the strap has an inner face and anopposite outer face and is adapted to be fastened around the limb, andat least one raised protuberance for pressing against the limb tothereby inhibit the strap from rotation about the limb when the strap isfastened around said limb such that the inner face of the strap ispressed against the limb, is defined on the strap.

Be inhibiting the strap from rotating about the limb the possibility ofthe cord being caught or becoming entangled with the limb is alsosubstantially reduced.

The strap may be made from one or more of a rubberised or plasticisedmaterial, neoprene, ethylenevinyl acetate (EVA), polyethylene (PE),EVA-PE and polyurethane. The cord will typically be made frompolyurethane although any suitable elastic material may be used.

The features and advantages of the invention will now be described infurther detail below with reference to a number of embodimentsillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a strap of a leash of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevated side view of the strap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of another strap of a leash of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a yet further strap of a leash of theinvention;

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view illustrating a cord of a leash of theinvention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a still another strap of a leash of theinvention; and

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a strap of another embodiment of a leash of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The leash 10 shown in FIG. 1 has a strap 12 with an inner face 14 and anopposite outer face 16. The strap is formed from a rubberised materialand is able to be wrapped around the ankle of a surfers leg.

A strip of hook tape 18 is fixed to the outer face of an end area 20 ofthe strap so as to engage with a corresponding strip of loop tape 22fixed to the inner face 14 of opposite end area 24 so as to therebyfasten the strap around the ankle.

As can be seen, the strap 12 is provided with a tab 26 which can begrasped to assist in peeling the hook tape 18 and loop tape 22 apart tothereby release the strap from the ankle. In the embodiments shown, thehook and loop tape was moulded in position when the strap 12 was formedbut may simply be sewn onto the strap 12 if desired.

The inner face 14 of the strap 12 is provided with a recess 28 shaped tosubstantially correspond to the contour of the achilles region of theankle so that rotation of the strap about the ankle in use is therebyinhibited. Rotation of the strap about the ankle is also inhibited bythe provision of protuberances in the form of raised ribs 30 extendingacross the strap. The ribs are integrally formed with the strap and actby forming shallow furrows in the skin of the when the strap is fastenedtherearound. Rather than ribs, the protuberances may be provided in theform of raised studs.

The strap also has a guide 32 that receives and holds proximal endregion 34 of flexible cord 36 as indicated in phantom outline. The cordis formed from polyurethane and so is elastic. Moreover, the end region34 of the cord extends rearwardly from the strap 12 and is orientated byguide 32 so as to be biased to one side of the ankle once strap 12 hasbeen fastened to the surfer's limb such that the achilles region of theankle is received in recess 28. This directs the cord away from the limband thereby reduces the possibility of the cord being caught by the limbwhen the surfer moves from a prone position to a riding stance.

As indicated in FIG. 2, the end region 34 of the cord 36 is alsodirected at a downwardly sloping angle relative to the rear face 16 ofthe strap. This further assists in inhibiting the cord from floating orcurling in the immediate vicinity of the ankle and hence further reducesthe possibility of the cord being caught by the limb.

The guide 32 is able to be flexed relative to the remainder of the strapso that when the cord is tensioned, the guide can be orientated in thedirection from which the tension is being applied to therebysubstantially avoid the strap from being pulled around the ankle.However, once the tension on the cord is removed the guide returns toits normal resting position due to the resilience of the material fromwhich the cord is formed such that the end region 34 of the cord is oncemore orientated to the one side of the ankle.

Another strap is illustrated in FIG. 3. As shown, the guide 32 is formedin an offset position at the rear of the strap so that the cord 36 isagain biased to one side of the ankle when the strap is fastened aroundthe ankle in use.

Yet another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 4. In thisinstance, the end region 34 of the cord 36 is orientated with respect tostrap 12 at a sharper angle compared to that of the strap shown in FIG.1 or FIG. 3. The inner face 14 of the strap 12 is also shaped tosubstantially correspond to the achilles region of an ankle but in thisinstance rather than being provided with arcuate surfaces 38 as in thecase of the earlier described straps, the inner face 14 has generallyflat surfaces 40 which converge to curved trough 42 formed to receiveand wrap closely around the achilles tendon.

In the leash shown in FIG. 5, the cord 36 has a permanently formed bend44 in its end region 34 which causes the cord to be directed sidewardlyaway from the strap at angle and so be biased to one side of the anklein use. The bend may be formed by any known method. One such methodinvolves holding the cord at the desired curvature in a jig and heatingthe cord to a temperature so as to sufficiently soften the polyurethaneprior to immersing the cord in cold water. The cord can be removed fromthe jig once it has been cooled. The heat may be applied to the cordwith the use of a heat blower or alternatively, soaking the cord inboiling water.

In yet another form, the end region of the cord may be formed with anextension in the form of a leg that projects from one side of the cordand is of sufficient length to press against one side of the strap tothereby cause the cord to be biased to an opposite side of the anklewhen the strap is fastened around the ankle in use.

The cord 36 can be secured to a strap 12 by forming the guide 32 aroundthe end region of the cord using any conventionally known injectionmoulding, thermoforming or low pressure casting method. To strengthenthe attachment to the strap, the proximal end region 34 of the cord maybe flattened and extend along through the strap so as to be able to bepartially wrapped around the ankle as shown in FIG. 6.

A metallic pin extending through the cord and the guide 32 may also beprovided wherein opposite ends of the pin are flanged to prevent itsdislodgment from the leash. In addition, a fastening clip can be tightlywrapped around the guide so as to cause the end region 34 of the cord tobe fixedly grasped. If desired, the strap 12 maybe performed and thecord simply inserted into the guide prior to being secured to the strapby way of such metal pins. Suitable adhesives may also be used withinthe guide to assist in the securing of the cord to the strap.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the guide 32 of the strapincorporates a swivel generally indicated by the numeral 46 which allowsthe end section 48 of the guide and hence the cord to rotate about anaxis extending along the guide to thereby inhibit twisting of the cordas may occur when a surfer falls from his or her surfboard and as suchfurther reduce the possibility of the cord subsequently gathering aroundthe surfer's ankle. As will be readily appreciated, the end region 34 ofthe cord terminates within the guide slightly before the swivel. Theswivel may consist of a brass or other substantially non-corrosivemetallic swivel securely held within the guide 32 such that effectiveattachment of the cord to the strap is maintained. Again, metal pins mayextend through the guide 32 and the swivel to thereby secure the swivelin position within the strap.

While not shown, a woven loop extends from the opposite distal end ofthe cords 36 of the leashes illustrated in the accompanying drawings asis commonly known to enable the leash to be attached to a plug on a deckof a surfboard.

Although the guide has been shown as being angled downwardly relative tothe rear side 16 of the strap, embodiments may be provided wherein theguide is angled upwardly.

In addition, the invention is not limited to leashes or straps forfastening around the ankle of a surfer and indeed, embodiments may beprovided wherein the inner side 14 is shaped to match the curvature ofthe lateral or ventral side of the wrist or bicep region of the arm ofsurfers such as body board riders, or even the knee region.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated by the skilled addressee thatnumerous variation and modification are possible without departing fromthe scope of the invention which is defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A leash for securing a surf craft to a limb of aperson, the leash comprising: a strap with an inner face and an oppositeouter face, and which is adapted for being fastened around the limb; anda cord with a proximal end region attached to the strap, and an oppositedistal end region for attachment to the surf craft; wherein the proximalend region of the cord is maintained in a biased position so as to bebiased to one side of the limb from a position trailing behind the limb,when the strap is fastened around the limb such that the inner face ofthe strap is pressed against said limb, wherein the inner face ispre-shaped to substantially correspond to the contour of a region of thelimb to thereby inhibit the strap from rotation about the limb when thestrap is fastened around said region of the limb, and Wherein the limbis a leg and the inner face of the strap is shaped to substantiallycorrespond to the contour of the Achilles region of the ankle and soreceive that region of the limb when the strap is fastened around thelimb of the person.
 2. A leash according to claim 1 wherein the strap isadapted to hold the proximal end region of the cord to the one side ofthe limb.
 3. A leash according to claim 2 wherein the strap has a guidewhich receives and holds the proximal end region of the cord such thatthe cord is thereby caused to be biased to the one side of the limb. 4.A leash according to claim 3 wherein the guide incorporates a swivelthat enables the cord to be rotated about its longitudinal axis relativeto the strap.
 5. A leash according to claim 1 wherein the proximal endregion of the cord itself is adapted to be biased to the one side of thelimb.
 6. A leash according to claim 5 wherein a bend is formed in theproximal end region of the cord and wherein the bend causes the cord tobe biased to the one side of the limb.
 7. A leash according to claim 1wherein the proximal end region of the cord is attached to the strap ata position for location behind the achilles region of the ankle when thestrap is fastened around the limb.
 8. A leash according to claim 1wherein at least one protuberance for pressing against the limb tothereby inhibit the strap from rotating about the limb when the strap isfastened around said limb, is defined on the strap.
 9. A leash accordingto claim 8 wherein a plurality of protuberances in the form oftransverse ribs spaced apart from each other along the strap are definedthereon.
 10. A leash according to claim 9 wherein the ribs extendsubstantially parallel to one another.
 11. A cord for a leash that issuitable for securing a surf craft to a limb of a person, wherein theleash includes a strap adapted for being fastened around the limb andhaving an inner face and an opposite outer face, and the cord has adistal end region for attachment to the surf craft and a proximal endregion for attachment to the strap, the proximal end region of the cordbeing adapted to cause the cord to be biased from a position trailingbehind the limb to one side of said limb, when the proximal end regionof the cord is attached to the strap and when the strap is fastenedaround the limb so that the inner face thereof is pressed against saidlimb.
 12. A cord according to claim 11 wherein a bend is formed in theproximal end region of the cord for causing said biasing.
 13. A strapfor attachment to a cord for securing a surf craft to a limb of aperson, wherein the strap is adapted for being fastened around the limband has an outer face and an opposite inner face, and is further adaptedto receive an end region of the cord such that the cord is therebybiased from a position trailing the limb to one side of the limb, whenthe strap is fastened around said limb, wherein the inner face ispre-shaped to substantially correspond to the contour of a region of thelimb to thereby inhibit the strap from rotation about the limb when thestrap is fastened around said region of the limb, and Wherein the limbis a leg and the inner face of the strap is shaped to substantiallycorrespond to the contour of the Achilles region of the ankle and soreceive that region of the limb when the strap is fastened around thelimb of the person.
 14. A strap according to claim 13 wherein the straphas a guide for receiving and holding the proximal end region of thecord to thereby cause the cord to be biased to one side of the limb. 15.A strap according to claim 14 wherein the guide incorporates a swivelfor enabling the cord to be rotated about its longitudinal axis relativeto the strap.
 16. A leash for securing a surf craft to a limb of aperson, and comprising: a strap with an inner face and an opposite outerface, and being adapted to be fastened around the limb; and a cord witha proximal end region attached to the strap and a distal end region forattachment to the surf craft; wherein the inner face of the strap isshaped to substantially correspond to the contour of a region of thelimb to thereby inhibit the strap from rotation about the limb, when thestrap is fastened around said region of the limb such that the innerface of the strap is pressed against said limb.
 17. A leash according toclaim 16 wherein the proximal end region of the cord is attached to thestrap at a position for location behind the achilles region of the anklewhen the strap is fastened around the limb.
 18. A leash according toclaim 16 wherein at least one protuberance for pressing against the limbis thereby inhibit the strap from rotating about the limb when the strapis fastened around said limb, is defined on the strap.
 19. A leashaccording to claim 18 wherein a plurality of protuberances in the formof transverse ribs spaced apart from each other along the strap aredefined thereon.
 20. A leash according to claim 19 wherein the ribsextend substantially parallel to one another.
 21. A strap for securing acord to a limb of a person, wherein the strap is attachable to the cordand has an inner face and an opposite outer face, and is adapted to befastened around the limb, and wherein the inner face of the strap isshaped to substantially correspond to the contour of a region of thelimb is thereby inhibit the strap from rotation about the limb, when thestrap is fastened around said region of the limb such that the innerface of the strap is pressed against said limb, wherein the inner faceis pre-shaped to substantially correspond to the contour of a region ofthe limb to thereby inhibit the strap from rotation about the limb whenthe strap is fastened around said region of the limb, and Wherein thelimb is a leg and the inner face of the strap is shaped to substantiallycorrespond to the contour of the Achilles region of the ankle and soreceive that region of the limb when the strap is fastened around thelimb of the person.
 22. A strap according to claim 21 wherein at leastone protuberance for pressing against the limb to thereby inhibit thestrap from rotation about the limb when the strap is fastened aroundsaid limb such that the inner face of the strap is pressed against thelimb, is defined on the strap.
 23. A leasing according to claim 22wherein a plurality of protuberances in the form of transverse ribsspaced apart from each other along the strap are defined thereon.
 24. Aleash according to claim 23 wherein the ribs extend substantiallyparallel to one another.
 25. A leash for securing a surf craft to a limbof a person, comprising: a strap with an inner face and an oppositeouter face, and being adapted to be fastened around the limb; and a cordwith a proximal end region attached to the trap and a distal end regionfor attachment to the surf craft; wherein at least one protuberance forpressing against the limb to thereby inhibit the strap from rotationabout the limb when the strap is fastened around said limb such that theinner face of the strap is pressed against the limb, is defined on thestrap, wherein the inner face is pre-shaped to substantially correspondto the contour of a region of the limb to thereby inhibit the strap fromrotation about the limb when the strap is fastened around said region ofthe limb, and Wherein the limb is a leg and the inner face of the strapis shaped to substantially correspond to the contour of the Achillesregion of the ankle and so receive that region of the limbs when thestrap is fastened around the limb of the person.
 26. A leash accordingto claim 25 wherein a plurality of protuberances in the form oftransverse ribs spaced apart from each other along the strap are definedthereon.
 27. A leash according to claim 26 wherein the ribs extendsubstantially parallel to one another.
 28. A strap for securing a cordto a limb of a person, wherein the strap has an inner face and anopposite outer face and is adapted to be fastened around the limb, andat least one raised protuberance for pressing against the limb tothereby inhibit the strap from rotation about the limb when the strap isfastened around said limb such that the inner face of the strap ispressed against the limb, is defined on the strap, wherein the innerface is pre-shaped to substantially correspond to the contour of aregion of the limb to thereby inhibit the strap from rotation about thelimb when the strap is fastened around said region of the limb, andWherein the limb is a leg and the inner face of the strap is shaped tosubstantially correspond to the contour of the Achilles region of theankle and so receive that region of the limb when the strap is fastenedaround the limb of the person.
 29. A strap according to claim 28 whereina plurality of protuberances in the form of transverse ribs spaced apartfrom each other along the strap are defined thereon.
 30. A leashaccording to claim 29 wherein the ribs extend substantially parallel toone another.